DCU Timeline Revealed in Peacemaker Season 2 Trailer

Summer 2025 promises an exhilarating time for DC enthusiasts. Just weeks after Superman graces the big screen and marks the live-action debut of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU, fans can look forward to the return of Peacemaker with John Cena reprising his role as the peace-loving yet gun-toting Christopher Smith. The beloved cast from Season 1 is set to return, ensuring more of the dynamic storytelling and humor that fans adore.

The first trailer for Peacemaker Season 2 offers a glimpse into the upcoming plot and its connection to the first season and Gunn's The Suicide Squad. From new details about the DCU timeline and Rick Flagg's role as a "villain" to the noticeable absence of Vigilante, here's a breakdown of the key highlights from the trailer.

DC Universe: Every Upcoming Movie and TV Show

View 39 ImagesFreddie Stroma's Vigilante in Peacemaker Season 2

While John Cena's portrayal of Christopher Smith is undeniably compelling—a character who champions peace yet engages in violent conflicts, embodying a classic Gunn-style mix of humor and heart—the series thrives on its ensemble cast. Much like The Flash relied on Team Flash, Peacemaker benefits greatly from its supporting characters.

Freddie Stroma's Vigilante was a standout in Season 1, serving as a humorous counterpart to Peacemaker. His quirky and endearing persona made him a fan favorite, despite deviating from the comic book version. It's disappointing, then, to see less of him in the trailer. While John Cena and Jennifer Holland's Emilia Harcourt, who seems to be wrestling with rage issues, take the forefront, Vigilante appears more in the background. We see him working at a fast food restaurant and grappling with the reality that saving the world doesn't always bring fame. Hopefully, his role in the season will be more substantial than what the trailer suggests.

The trailer kicks off with an unexpected scene: Peacemaker attending an open interview with the Justice League. We see Sean Gunn's Maxwell Lord, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl, all of whom seem unimpressed by Peacemaker. This scene provides a deeper look into the Justice League's dynamics, which are far more humorous and irreverent than their previous iterations.

Gunn's influence from the Justice League International comics is evident, with Lord as the team's leader and financier. The focus is on a quirky group of heroes who benefit from the legitimacy of serving in the Justice League. This scene was likely filmed during the production of Superman, allowing Gunn to showcase the team's dynamic without committing them to a major role in Peacemaker Season 2. Isabela Merced's vibrant portrayal of Hawkgirl is particularly promising, offering a refreshing take on the character after the Arrowverse's less successful attempt.

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The Return of Frank Grillo’s Rick Flagg, Sr.

Frank Grillo's Rick Flagg, Sr. is a pivotal figure in the DCU, having played a significant role in Creature Commandos and set to appear in Superman. In Peacemaker Season 2, he emerges as the central antagonist, though his motives are rooted in grief over his son's death and his new position as head of ARGUS. This setup promises a compelling narrative, as Peacemaker must confront his past actions in The Suicide Squad. Will viewers empathize with Flagg's quest for vengeance against Team Peacemaker? It's a storyline that's sure to captivate audiences.

Making Sense of the DCU Timeline

The integration of The Suicide Squad into the DCU timeline is intriguing. Despite the reboot, elements from the previous DCEU remain, with The Suicide Squad now serving as the unofficial first DCU movie. The timeline unfolds as follows: The Suicide Squad (2021), Peacemaker Season 1 (2022), Creature Commandos (2024), Superman (July 2025), and Peacemaker Season 2 (August 2025), followed by an explosion of new projects.

Gunn's desire to retain the continuity from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1 is understandable, and as he told IGN, "canon only matters so much." He aims to maintain authenticity and truth in the stories while acknowledging the fictional nature of the universe.

The presence of the DCEU Justice League in Peacemaker Season 1 posed a continuity challenge, which Gunn plans to address in Season 2. The trailer hints at multiverse elements, suggesting that anything is possible in resolving these narrative threads. By the end of Season 2, the DCU's canon should be much clearer, and fans can anticipate a satisfying return of Peacemaker—with hopes that Vigilante gets his due spotlight.